Thermal and Mechanical Properties of EPR and XLPE Cable Compounds

摘要

Thermal and mechanical properties of four ethylene propyliene rubber (EPR) cable dielectrics and a tree-retardant, cross-linked polyethylene (TRXLPE) cable dielectric have been measured from room temperature to 140°C. The measurements were carried out by the Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut on samples prepared by cable manufacturers. Dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and thermomechanical analyzer (TMA) data were measured by professional staff of the Institute, and thermal conductivities were measured by the Electrical Insulation Research Center. In the areas addressed by this contribution, the data update and expand on previous work. The EPR samples took the form of plaques and cylinders, which were prepared by the companies that supplied the compounds, all of which are in commercial production. The commercially available TRXLPE samples were obtained from a company that had stock and made the samples for measurement. The labeling of compounds is consistent throughout the paper, i.e., EPR1 for thermal conductivity measurements is the same compound as EPR1 for the TGA, DSC, etc.